A wonderfully fresh, minerally Caol Ila bottled by TWE from a single ex-bourbon cask. Lots of sea air, seaweed and seashells make this the olfactory equivalent of a picnic on the beach. A big hit at 2012's TWE Whisky Show.

Caol Ila 19 Year Old Reviews

Tasting Notes

Tasting Notes by Whiskyfun (Serge Valentin)

Another ‘tribute to the old officials’ bottling by TWE. This baby was just introduced at The Whisky Show London.

Colour: white wine.

Nose: Textbook, ultra-classic mineral Caol Ila. Some kind of smoked cocktail made out of oyster and lemon juices. Also traces of exhaust fumes and burnt rubber, ‘in a good way’. With water: it’s its medicinal side that comes to the front, with almost a Laphroaigness. Also more ashes and soot (coal stove).

Mouth (neat): Exactly what happened on the nose, plus touches of green olives. So flints, oysters, lemon and ‘good’ rubber (yet it’s not rubbery at all, well, I know what I’m trying to say). Some wax and ashes as well, maybe one or two capers… (briny and a little sour, works very well).

With water: all perfect. Smoked and salted lemon juice. Oysters and touches of chilli sauce. Rocks.

Finish: Long, very zesty, very fresh.

Comments: Still youngish but already great. Caol Ila is a good example of a name that’s widely available and almost always excellent. Very good value.

88 points

3 Customer Reviews

Agreed. An excellent, stong bottling that holds its own well even against older Caol Ilas. Costs less than the distillery's cask str. and is much better to boot. Price/quality is what gets this one the fifth star.

paul watson.
4 May 2013

One of the best Caol Ila's i have tasted,seriously considering buying a second bottle.